Suction cleaner



g- 11, 1942- D. SMELLIE I I Re. 22,158

SUCTION CLEANER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Donald 6'. Sine/lie ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 1942. D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. 18, "1936 him/d 6. J'mellz'e ATTO RN EY hollow handleat linel, 3 of Figure 1;

Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STAT-E SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, ohimassignor to The Hoover Company, poration of Ohio North Canton, Ohio, a cor-- Original No. 2,130,513; dated September 20, 1938,

Serial No. 110,515, December 1:, 193a. Application for reissue July 24, i940, Serial No.

This invention relates to improvements in suction cleaners and more particularly to a suction cleaner of the handle-maneuvered, portable type characterized especially by'a design in which a easing forming a fan chamber and preferably housing the motor, rotates bodily about a horisontal axis and includes, as an integral part thereof, 'a handle which is free to swing upwardly and downwardly. and a dirt filtering bag and collecting receptacle carried beneath the handle.

The object of the present invention is to improve upon the so-called rotative fan casing. handle and bag arrangement first, by constructing the dirt receptacle in two sections, namely, an elongated filter bag of paper, cloth or other porous material and a relatively smaller imperforate collecting receptacle adapted for frequent emp ylns. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the dirt-laden air enters the dirt receptacle adjacent its upper end rather than at its lower end, as is the more customary arrangement, by using the hollow or tuhula: handle as an extension of the exhaust passage from the fan chamber and having a suitable connection with the upper end of the dirt receptacle. In this way, the dirt-laden air, entering the upper end of the dirt receptacle, moves in a general downwardly direction eventually to find its. way into the 'i-mperforate receptacle at the lower end of the filter bag.

Other novel features incident to the accomplishme'nt of the more essential objects of the invention will be referred to inthe discussion to follow a brief description of the accompanying drawingsinwlrich:

Figure 1 is a general view in side elevation of a suction cleaner embodying the improved features of construction and design;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rear half of therfan chamber in side eleva- .tion and the exhaust outlet, the lower end portion of the handle and the dirt receptacle being shown in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view in cross Claims. (c1. 183-52) ate collecting receptacle removed from the 'lower endofthebag; F -Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper 'end of the dirt bag and adiacent portion of the handle showing the inlet connection to-theba'g:

;Figure 8 is a detailed view ,-in cross-section through the inlet connection to the bag as taken on line 8, 8 of Figure 7, and

Figure 9- is a cross-sectional view through the handle and bag assembly as taken on line 9, 8

of Figure l.

Referring a nozzle casing 2 having a downwardly facing suction mouth. A cylindric casing 3 is also supported upon the carriage l for limited rotation about a horizontal transverse axis, and as clearly shown in Figure l, is located rearwardly of the nozzle casing. e

The rotative cylindric casing-3 forms a' fan chamber 5 occupying substantially one-half of its length and enclosing a suction fan 6 mounted.

plates 8, 8 are hollow ca'smg sections 9, 9 formed integral with the nozzle! and extendingrearwardly at right "angles therefrom in spaced relation to form passages which enclose the openings at the ends oi the rotative casing or houssection taken through the dirt receptacle and Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of ing 8, Thus, as shown in Figure 3, the passage formed by the casing section 9 at the left, con nects the nozzle chamber withthe fan chamber a 8 and forms the inlet passage for the dirt-laden air. The passage formed by the casing section 8 at the opposite end of the casing 3 provides a housing for a driving pulley at the end of the motor shaft la and a belt III for driving a rota tlve agitator ll extending lengthwise of the nozzle immediately above the, suction mouth. For the purpose of the present disclosure it willnot be necessary to dwell at length on those features of the cleaner thus far described and identified, inasmuch asthey are more or less typical of a heretofore known design.

Referring now to those-portions of the cleaner associated with the handling of the air discharged from the fan chamber, it will be noted first of to the cleaner in its generalasp'ects, the same comprises a carriage l which supports all that' the discharge or exhaust passage from the fan chamber takes the form of a spiral enlargement l2 starting near the bottom and extending rearwardly and upwardly through an angle of something more than 90 degrees at the rear of the fan chamber and then, swinging outwardly in a reverse'curve, terminates in a socket I 211 inwhich is inserted the lower end of a hollow handle I 3 and fastened as by bolts ll. This socket and the adjacent length of the handle are preferably rectangular in cross section as shown in Figure 3, with their top surfaces substantially tangential to the upper surface of the cylindric casing 3. The handle I3 is for the most part of a hollowsheet metal construction continuing outwardly toward its free end and maintaining its rectangular "cross-sectional contour to a point just short of its extreme outer end, where it terminates in a slightly curved grip portion'l3a being socketed in a tubular extension of an attachment fitting I5 for the upper end of the dust bag as will presently be described in detail.

Now formed integral-with the radially extending outlet connection l2 from the casing 3 and depending therefrom immediately below the handle receiving socket [2a, is an integral ring, I8

generally rectangular in shape but with slightly convex side and bottom wall as clearly shown in Figure 3. This integral ring I6 is spaced some distance outwardly from the rotative casing 3 as well as from the carriage l" thereby leaving a space therebetween for a dirt collecting receptacle I1, having a large openend conforming to the shape of the supporting ring it and tapering to a rounded bottom end as clearly shown in Figure 6. This receptacle is preferably made of a light metal cast or otherwise shaped to fit snugly within the space directly below the outlet connection I2 with its open end fitting tightly into an internal seat I So around the lower edge of the supporting ring it and abutting edgewise against a gasket II to provide an air-tight joint. A spring clip l3 riveted to the outlet portion l2 of the rotative casing 3 acts to yieldingly engage the lower rounded end of the receptacle l1 and a pair of overlapping fingers and 2| carried by the receptacle l1 and the supporting ring it respectively, act to hold the receptacle to its seat with the aid of the spring clip l9. ,A knob 22 located near the lower end of the receptacle I1 is provided for facilitating its removal.

' Now referring again to the receptacle support-- 7 ing ring it integral with the radially disposed outlet connection l2 from the fan chamber 3, the

. same also provides a support or'mounting for the open end of a light filter bag 23 of any suit able material although preferably of a porous forming portion of the handle, as well we conpaper. As shown in Figure 1, the bag 23 has the form of an elongated tube closedat its outer end and fashioned into a slightly restricted mouth portion at its lower end, preferably reinforced by a strip 24 applied internally. about the mouth opening as clearly shown in Figure 2. The outer edge portion of the supporting ring it is preferably reduced indiameter to form an'external seat lBb over which the reinforced mouth of the bag may be slippedand held in place by a suitable fastening member such as a flexible band 25 passing around the overlapping edge of the bag mouth and secured by a snap fastener 25a.

The bag 23 extends along the underside of the handle to a point short of the extremity or grip portion thereof and is supported by the fitting 16 which forms the terminal of the hollow conduit.

- general type, the

nection between the conduit and a laterally disposed inlet opening adjacent the upper end of the bag 23. Thus as clearly shown in Figure 7, the

I member l5 has essentially the form of a light metal elbow fitting attached to the end of the rectangular conduit-forming portion of the handle and,.making a degree turn in a downward direction, terminates in an annular flange or collar I5a projecting a short distance from the underside of the handle. The fitting l5 also has an integral cylindric extension lib forming a solid continuation of the handle and provided at its outer end with a socket into which is fitted the f grip I311.

The laterally opening inlet at the upper end of the bag 23 is preferably formed by inserting a flanged collar or ring 26 of cardboard or the like into a circular aperture cut in the body of the bag and securing the flanged portion of the ring to the bag material as clearly shown in Figure 7. This ring or col1ar28 is adapted to fit over the flange 15a surrounding the outlet opening. from the handle fitting l5, and to be detachably clamped in place by a clamping ring 21 supported within a collar-like housing 23 surrounding the flanged outlet of the fitting l5 and suitably carried thereby. By manipulating a suitable clamping lever 21a supported by the clamping ring retaining collar 28 it is a simple matter to apply and detach the inlet end of the whenever necessary. 1 To guard the bag against possible damage and undue wear during the operation of the cleaner, certain protective devices are preferably provided, one being a light metal shield 23 secured to the underside of the handle 13 adjacent its outer end portion an shaped to conform to the contour of the upper end portion of the bag.

This shield, covering the upper half and end of the bag, is suflicient to protect it with objects from above and'along the sides thereof. The other protective member consists and fastened at its end in a bracket 32 having a pivoted locking member 32:; normally held .in lockingposition bymeans'of a springpressed knob 32!: on the end of the hinged locking memher and which frame to swing to be removed.

As for the cleaning action of the particular suction cleaner herein disclosed, it diifers'not essentially from any portable cleaner of the same downwardly to dusteladen air is discharged from the fan cham-' her into the hollow conduit l3 forming the major portion of the handle, thence entering the upper end of the bag 2:, the dirt being trapped within the bag and the air passing through the wall toward the lower the removable Moreover, when has to the fitting i5 the underside when released permits the entire permit the bag 23 only difference-being that the apparent that by raising the handle to its vertical position from time to time and shaking the bag or tapping its sides lightly such dirt and litter that might adhere to the inner surface of thebagwouldbedislodgedanddroppedintothe collecting receptacle whereupon. the latter would heremovedand emptied.- a

One of the advantages of this arrangementis the elimination of the disagreeable task of detaching and emptyinl the ordinary cloth dirt bag, for while the present bag has detachable connection at either end so that it can be removed, it serves primarily use filtering member, and as such can be used for a long period of time providing it is given proper care and attention. In other words, the dirt is collected in the removable receptacle II, which can be readily removed and emptied without disturbing the bag and without the attending disadvantage of bag emptying.

A further advantage of the arrangement herein disclosed is that of locating the inlet to the bag adjacent its upper end so that the natural progress of the entering dirt particles is from the top toward the bottom and unrestricted by adverse currents of air such as would be set up within the bag were the inletopening thereto "located elsewhere and more particularly. at or near its lower end.

Having set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing having an exhaust outlet, a hollow handle connected with said casing at said outlet and forming an exhaust conduit, a filter bag mounted beneath said handle and having an inlet adjacent its upper end connected with a downwardly facing outlet opening from the outer end of said conduit, said bag also having a relatively large open mouth at its lower end, a rigid supporting member depending from said casing adjacent said exhaust outlet and detachably supporting said bag mouth in extended position, and

.a shield carried by said handle and covering the uppermost side and end portions of said bag. 2. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing having anexhaust outlet, a hollow handle connected with said casing at said outlet and forming an exhaust conduit, a filter bag mounted beneath said handle and having an inlet adjacent its upper end connected with a downwardly facing outlet opening from the upper end of said conduit, said bag also having a relatively large open mouth at its lower. end, a rigid annular supporting member depending from said casing adjacent said exhaust outlet and detachably supporting said bag mouth in extended position, a collecting receptacle detachably supported with its open end communicating with said bag mouth, and an elongated frame hinged to said supporting member and, extending lengthwise beneath said bag, adapted for detachably mounting at its freeend adjacent the upper end ofsaid handle. J

3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a carriage, a fan casing rotatively mounted on said carriage to turn about a horizontal axis and having a tangentially opening exhaustoutlet, a hollow handle connected with said casing at said outlet' and forming an exhaust conduit, an elongated filter bag mounted beneath said handle and having an adapted to be connected inlet at its upper end with the upper end said conduit and a relatively large open mouth has mduth rm rtinz member. a shield""'- mounted on said handle and extending laterally therefrom to cover the uppermost exposed side and end of said bag, and an elongated frame member hinged to the under side of said b mouth supporting member and extending lengthwise beneath said bag, and means for detachably anchoring the free end of said frame to the upper edge of said shield.

4. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing having an exhaust outlet, a hollow handle connected with said outlet and forming an exhaust passage, a filter z-bag mounted beneath said handle and an inlet adjacent its upper end connected with an outlet opening from saidexhaust passage, a supporting member adjacent the lower end of said handle for detachably supporting the adjacent portion of said filter bag and a frame having hinged connection with said supporting member and extending lengthwise of said handle below said bag.

5. In a suction cleaner of the type embodying a pivoted handle and a dust bag supported thereby and adjacent thereto, a bag-protecting frame pivotally mounted relative to said handle at its lower end and extended beneath and in contact with said has, and manually operable means releasably securing said frame relative to said handle at its upper end.

6. In a suction cleaner of the type emb .a pivoted handle and a dust bag supported therebyfand adjacent thereto, a bag-protecting frame comprising parallel rods interconnected by a rod webbing and joined at their upper ends, means pivotally mounting the lower end of said frame relative to said handle, and manually operable means rele'asably securing said frame relative to said handle at its upper end.

'I. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing having an exhaust outlet, a hollow handle connected with said outlet and formingan exhaust passage, a filter bag mounted beneath said handle and interiorly connected thereto, a bag-protecting member carried by said handle contoured to lie above said bag, and a bagrestraining member carried by said handle ad- 'jacent the under side of said bag to effect .the

expansion of said bag against said bag-protecting member and to reduce the thickness of said bag to said handle at the lower end of said bag and extended along the. under side thereof parallel to said handle to force said bag when expanded against said shield and to reduce its thickness below said handle, and manually operable means releasabLv securing the upper end of said bagrestraining member relative to said handle.

9. A neckless dirt-filtering bag for a suction cleaner comprising an. elongated air-pervious of cylindrical body formed with an, intake opening tor dirt-laden air adjacentjthe top end of said body and lying flat in the body side wali,;the

plane of said intake opening being substantially parallel to the major axis of the bag. and with anormally open exhaust opening for falling dirt at the opposite or bottom end of said body, the plane of said exhaust opening being substantially at right angles to said major axis.

10. In a suction cleaner an exhaust conduit for dirt-laden air, an air pervious dust bag having an inlet opening at its upper end connected to said conduit, said inlet opening being formed in a side wall and so positioned and arranged that entering dirt-laden air initially travels transversely of the major axis of the air-pervious bag, said bag being formed at its lower end'with an exhaust outlet transverseto said axis, and a dirt receptacleremovably attached to the exhaust outlet of the ba'gto receive particles of r dirt which drop from the bag through said outlet. 10 I O ALD G. .sMELLm, 

